A federal jury has awarded Nassau County Correction Officer Jonathan Wharton $420,000 for claims he was discriminated against at work.

Wharton says he was retaliated against after he complained to administrators about a hostile work environment. He says he was removed from his position in the public information office and moved to a midnight shift.

He says his requests for time off for religious purposes were also habitually denied.

"There's a municipal pattern and practice of retaliation...that's a major issue in a case such as this," said attorney Fred Brewington.

Nassau County plans to appeal the verdict.